Akin Associates - Chris Hurd

Arriving in Burlington in the winter of 1979 as a freshmen at UVM, despite record breaking cold that would have had others running south, I began a journey that has kept me here 28 years now. It's hard to believe how quickly time has passed. So many, many great memories. Two children. My maginificent son and daughter. I can't imagine raising them in a better place. I've just loved living here and my passion for this state has only grown over time.

Driving home from an out-of-state trip, I love seeing that "Welcome to Vermont" sign on the highway. Or, flying in by way of the Burlington International Airport, the best small airport on the planet, from a business trip or vacation adventure elicits the same response. "Welcome Home" and all the mortar in the joints of my Vermont foundation echoes through my mind and in my heart. Each time, I feel an abiding warmth and happiness returning to this special state.

Born just north of Chicago in a beautiful town called Lake Forest, we moved to Chicago and lived on the "Gold Coast" just steps away from the Oak Street Beach, Lake Michigan and Michigan Avenue. My love of baseball began amidst the brick and ivy of Wrigley Field watching the Cubbies.

Some years later, we moved east and settled in Redding Center, a small town without a stoplight to this day, in Fairfield County, CT.

I spent wonderful years in prep school in Concord, MA and at my college advisor's urging I applied and was accepted at the University of Vermont.

I've never left.

I've lived in Burlingon, South Burlington, Underhill Center, Jeffersonville and Charlotte. I love the outdoors. Cross country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, winter and summer hiking, tennis, Lake Champlain, the Green's and the White's and the Adirondack Mountains are all so wonderfully close. Cycling. Full moons. Kayaking. Summer picnic's and outdoor music. Relaxing on my front porch looking out across the meadows towards Lake Champlain and the 'Dacks. Sledding down Mount Philo. The Flynn Theater and UVM hockey.

I'm a Sox fan now (still have a soft spot for those Cubbies) and love all the successes and fun they have brought into our lives.

I hope you can feel some part of what I feel after all these years. Vermont is a great place to live. It has been my very happy home.

Areas of Expertise

28 years of experience living in the Burlington area uniquely qualifies me as your perfect partner to identify choice Vermont and Lake Champlain communities and properties of all kinds. I cover real estate located in northwest Vermont's Champlain Valley, Lake Champlain's waterfront properties and vacation home properties in the ski country of Stowe and the Mad River Valley too. Greater Burlington VT has received many Accolades and Awards for quality health care, schools, low crime, our revered environment and many additional factors which have contributed to our exceptional quality of life. The extraordinary beauty of Vermont's Green Mountains to the east and Lake Champlain with the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains of New York to the west moves all of us. Burlington, Stowe, Middlebury, Montreal and Hanover NH are easily accessed for cultural, educational, great shopping and recreational pursuits of all kinds. Boston, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia are only short direct flights away. That's why so many decide to live here, raise their families and retire in and around Burlington, the Champlain Valley or rural Vermont. See Vermont Ranks First in National Health Report issued November 6th, 2007.

Serving:

Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Ferrisburg, Grand Isle, Greensboro, Hinesburg, Jericho, Jericho Center, Lincoln, Middlebury, Milton, Monkton, North Hero, Richmond, Shelburne, S. Burlington, South Hero, Stowe,Underhill, Underhill Center, Vergennes, Waitsfield, Warren, Waterbury, Westford, Williston, Winooski VT Real Estate

Testimonials

There are many things I can say about the high quality of service I provide to my home seller and home buyer clients, but probably none would be as credible as testimonials from some of my clients themselves. Please read the following testimonials. I hope they lend perspective as to my experience and integrity, as well as make it clear how much I enjoy helping people with their real estate needs:

"Thank you for the wonderful job that you did for us! Your personnel attention to every detail was outstanding, you listened to what we wanted and you didn't waste our time. Being from out of state this was crucial. Buying at a distance can be stressful but your efficiency and professionalism made the process enjoyable. We both know that you were fully committed and determined in fulfilling our needs. We would like to thank you for all the energy and effort you put in assisting us with our purchase. It was a great comfort to have dealt with you in the purchase of our new home. We would highly recommend you to anyone looking for a new home."

Pat & Beth S. - Queens, N.Y

"As a buyers agent, Chris Hurd went above and beyond by looking at many houses with us over the course of several years. Chris's patience and hard work was commendable since he put in extensive hours on weekends and evenings viewing houses with our family. He quickly got savy to what we were looking for in a home and was always willing to show us a new property. I appreciated that Chris's selectivity, sensitivity, and keeping us on his radar screen for a long period of time. We finally found our dream home after almost five years of looking with Chris. The purchase was contingent upon selling our old home and Chris made this happen in record time. I highly recommend Chris to anyone looking to buy a home since he is such a smart, personable guy willing to work as long as it takes to find that dream home! Thanks Chris!"

Dunbar Oehmig - Burlington, VT

"As a listing agent, Chris was incredibly motivated, unbelievably helpful, and hugely successful. We received a full price offer at the first showing a day after our house was listed on the market. Chris did extensive research and consultation with other realtors to make sure our house sold at an optimal price as quickly as it could. This ensured that we were able to successfully purchase another house (contingent upon the sale of our house).

I cannot thank Chris enough for his patience, humor, and just plain hard work. Chris was willing to do anything to help us prepare our house for marketing and showing (including coming to the house and helping pick up toys). As the mother of two young children, I needed a realtor who could hold a baby and entertain a five year old while my husband and I completed purchase and sale agreements and closing paperwork. I would highly recommend Chris as not only a talented realtor and competent negotiator but as a friendly, warm, trustworthy person I was grateful to have as a guide through the process of selling our home."

Janet Kilburn - Burlington, VT

"My family fell in love with Vermont after having vacationed there several times and decided I wanted a second home there. I contacted Chris through his website, told him what I was looking for and where I wanted to be. I flew up the following weekend, and Chris had several properties lined up for us to look at including THE PERFECT HOUSE in Stowe. I made an offer that weekend, and we closed shortly thereafter. My family and I cherish our time there, and are so grateful to Chris because we'd not have found it without him."

Nancy Alexander - St. Petersburg, FL

"Thank you for everything you did. We had a great working relationship with you. The Closing Attorney, Mortgage Broker and Building Inspector- all three were top class and you should recommend them more often. You can use me as a recommendation anytime. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

Andy Rosenthal - Freeport, Maine

"Chris made a very professional impression instantly when I met him. I also really appreciated his caring demeanor and fun sense of humor. He genuinely seemed to be working for my best interest in finding the perfect property. He put in a lot of time doing research and showing me various properties. I would definitely recommend Chris Hurd to help you buy or sell your property."

Jennifer Johnson - Toronto

"I dare say that there could not be a better real estate broker for my money. Chris was the eyes, ears, mouth and legs for me as my buyer broker when my house was being built while I was still living in Washington, DC. He e-mailed pictures of the house as progress was being made, met regularly with the builder and even offered suggestions on how to make the final structure more pleasing to the eye and friendly to be lived in. In short, Chris was everything that a potential home buyer could want. By the way, he does all of this with professionalism and utmost respect for the customer."

Gary De Carolis - Washington, D.C.